Texas Beyond History

Fort Davis and the Trans-Pecos Trails

The vast and dry Trans-Pecos region was a formidable obstacle
for Indian, Spanish, and Anglo travelers in western Texas. Fort Davis,
constructed in the 1850s to help protect emigrants headed for the California
gold fields, continued to guard the San Antonio-El Paso road after the
Civil War and became the hub of the United States Army's last major Indian
campaign in Texas. For the soldiers stationed in the diverse region, the
rugged environment presented special challenges, from guarding the narrow
trails through the mountains to the difficult crossings of the Pecos River.
It was in this region that the mild music teacher-turned-warrior Benjamin
Grierson and famed Apache leader Victorio made their reputations. To begin
the journey on Trans-Pecos frontier, click on Trails of the Trans-Pecos
for an overview tracing the conflicts that began long before the white
man entered the region.